PLANNING DECISION IN LANCASTER

Early day motion 327, tabled 15 February 1999 by Hilton Dawson (Labour). Signed by 16 members.

That this House deplores a decision of the Planning Inspectorate to allow the building of a 50 metre chimney close to the magnificent Ashton Memorial and beautiful Williamson Park in Lancaster thus promoting the wider dispersal of stinking emissions from Fats and Proteins' animal rendering plant over the glorious townscape of a fine historic city in direct contravention of overwhelming public opinion and the well informed planning policies of Lancaster City Council; recognises that this decision pre-empts the forthcoming result of a public inquiry into Fats and Proteins' environmental authorisation; urges the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to call in, review and reject the decision of his inspector with regard to application nos: 97/01177/FUL and 97/01178/FUL, support the aspirations of the citizens of Lancaster for a relocation of Fats and Proteins, develop new planning policies which limit the ability of planning inspectors to impose perverse decisions upon whole communities, and review the training and guidance of planning inspectors with regard to aesthetic sensibility and civic responsibility.

Signatures by party: Labour 16.